We're open this Saturday-November 20

Shop!

We'll be open for some early bird Holiday Shopping again this Saturday from 10-5. If the hustle and bustle at the Dena'ina Center Art and Craft Emporium as too much for you-then walk up G street and shop a bit at Upstairs Studio! We'll have an intimate gathering of local Crafters and Artists selling their Modern Handmade Gifts at the Studio.

In addition to our Upstairs Studio Artists we will be joined this Saturday by Myler Almandinger,  Marie Polito and Dallas Wildeve.  

Myler Almandinger is bringing her exotic woven and knitted Quiviut items along with many other felted knit items. She has mittens, slippers and more. Given our recent weather-her goods may need to be given as early gifts !  They are warm, stylish and functional in our Arctic North.

 

 

Marie Polito of Saucy Kitchen Coveralls will have her reclaimed denim coverall wearables. (I'm hoping I can talk her into an Artist Apron design for myself.) She pairs some fun fabrics and designs into her skirts aprons and more.

Dallas Wildeve, ( you may remember  her stiched tyvek art showing at a recent First Friday with us) will have her jewelry made from salvaged plastic pipe, paper and more. She has away with using an unexpected combination or overlooked or scrapped items and turning them into  wearable art. I'm sure she'll have a showing of completely unique and one of a kind gifts for a friend or yourself.

Some of our Studio Artists have also been busy making new items for the Holiday Shopping season. I encourage you to stop by this Saturday and say hi-you'll have a chance to Shop!, meet great Artists and Crafters and spend some time in our unique Gallery Space without the distraction of First Friday crowds. We will also be open December 11 and 18-with a different mix of Artists and Crafters selling. Each Saturday will be different-so you could make them all and find new items and Artists each time.

Come on up!

Shop!

Tomorrow Nov 13 is your first chance to Shop! @ Upstairs Studio. We will be open from 10-5, just in time for you to find some great newly made gifts. Get out before the holiday crowds, you'll be rewarded with first pick of Modern Arts and Craft. Street parking is free downtown on Saturdays too.
How many more reasons do you need to come up the stairs and Shop? We have a couple guests selling with us:

Marie Polito-Saucy Kitchen Coveralls
Joanne Crow- Glass Alaska

Not to mention that our Studio Artists have been busy creating new items.
Come on Up!

Dia de los Muertos comes to First Friday

We are welcoming our special guests this month-Government Hill 6th Grade class. They are learning about Dia de los Muertos and are bringing their projects to the studio. Katie WayArtist and Mom has been helping them with their project and it has been a lot of fun for her.

 Miniature plaster sculptures.

Painting a sugar skull

Cool skeleton piece

Tray of sugar skulls

It will certainly be fun to see what they bring and experience all that young creativity. Great to nurture some budding artists at the Studio.

On the home front-it is the typical busy week before First Friday, with the extra fun of the Artist Skull Challenge.  The skull challenge morphed from a challenge to make some Dia de los Muertos related art to Erin making plaster paper mache skulls for Studio and Community artists who wanted to decorate a skull.  It has been quite fun and a great way to get other artists involved. The skulls will be on display  and some for sale this First Friday at the Studio. We are starting to plan our next Artist Challenge-so stay tuned for the reveal soon.

Amidst this preparation for First Friday, there are also goods being made for our Saturday shopping days "Shop!"-we will be open Nov 13, 20 and December 11 and 19 for extra Holiday shopping time. So if First Friday is too much or you want to take advantage of downtown Anchorage shopping and free parking-be sure to choose one of these Saturdays and come up the stairs to see us. We will have some other Modern Crafters selling with us-each day different Artists.

Erin has been busy puppet making, carving and painting. She plans to have a new puppet on display, if you have not seen her puppets yet-they are hard to describe-each one is very individual, hand sculpted head/faces and hands and feet-truly unique quirky beings. 

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Good Gifts Coming Down With Light, drawing by Erin with reclaimed frame, hand carved and painted

 

Day of the Dead Skull, by Erin Osinkosky

Shop!

If you have a bit of procrastinator in you and still want to participate as a Seller at one or two (or all) of our Shop! dates-we are still taking applications-get yours in and come sell with us!